Hep B Free Philadelphia Campaign

Hep B Free Philadelphia is a public awareness and education campaign – based on the enormously successful San Francisco Hep B Free campaign – that is being launched to address the growing severity of hepatitis B and liver cancer in the U.S.

The primary goals of the Philadelphia campaign include the following:

(1) Raise the public profile of hepatitis B and liver cancer as an urgent health priority;

(3) Involve key stakeholders and policy decision-makers to improve access to care for both prevention and treatment to reduce the burden of hepatitis B and liver cancer.

To achieve these goals, Hep B Free Philadelphia will establish partnerships to develop multiple levels of engagement and activities to ensure that this is truly a city-wide, community-owned campaign to improve the health and wellness of all Philadelphians!

Hepatitis B: A Philadelphia Story

Philadelphia is at the center of the hepatitis B story. The hepatitis B virus was discovered by Dr. Baruch Blumberg at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, for which he received a Nobel Prize, and he also invented the first hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is manufactured by only two companies in the U.S. – GlaxoSmithKline and Merck - which are both located in the Philadelphia region.

The first animal that was discovered to be most useful in studying hepatitis B was a groundhog living at the Philadelphia Zoo, and the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B – the Hepatitis B Foundation - was established just outside Philadelphia.

So, it is only natural that Philadelphia would now take the lead in advancing the Hep B Free campaign as a means to help make hepatitis B a top health priority in the city and nationwide!

Launch of Hep B Free Philadelphia

On e June 15, the Philadelphia Health Commissioner, Dr. Donald Schwarz, will present the Mayoral Proclamation in support of Hep B Free Philadelphia at a special press conference at City Hall.